Using Manipulatives in the Classroom
Issue 1April 2011
Manipulatives Make Math Meaningful
By: Dr. Janet K. Scheer
Dr. Janet K. Scheer is the executive director of Create a Vision, a company that customizes math staff development for grades K–12. She was settling into her seat at the beginning of a cross-country plane trip when a talkative gentleman sat down next to her and immediately started conversing with her. He eventually asked her to teach him how to teach his son division.When the drinks were served, Janet decided to seize the moment and show him that he, too, could "do math."
With a can of soda in front of them, she asked him, "What do you think is greater, the distance around the top of the can or the height of the can?" With a can of soda in front of them, she asked him, "What do you think is greater, the distance around the top of the can or the height of the can?"
In order to explain their assumption that the height of the can was greater than the distance around the top, the group begins using a variety of objects as measuring devices. This became a fun activity for them and they learned that the distance around the top of the can was significantly greater than the height. They were astounded that they solved the problem, without knowing a formula. They were also surprise at how fun it was to solve the problem by doing manipulating objects.
Although there is a dearth of research to support the use of manipulatives in the middle grades, research does show that effective teachers use a variety of teaching modes and cater to diverse learning styles. Manipulatives are hands-on, touchy-feely concrete objects that help children better understand the abstraction that we call numbers. Too often, students have memorized a formula rule and then cannot recall it to apply or use.
Useful Mathematics Manipulatives: Concrete and Virtual
By: Afua Saafir
Math manipulative should be an essential component of every elementary school classroom. Using concrete and virtual manipulative tools can be effective in teach mathematics. Hands-on activities with the use of manipulatives can be especially helpful for kinesthetic learners.
The Numbers and Operations category of elementary math instruction includes such topics as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, common fractions, decimals, comparing and ordering numbers, and place value. Using math manipulatives during this type of math instruction can be engaging to students.
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Elementary students are introduced to algebraic and geometric concepts as early as kindergarten and first grade. Pattern and attribute blocks, along with mats and boards are wonderful for sorting and patterning activities with these grade levels. It is always good to allow your students to have access to math manipulatives such as solids geometric shape blocks, geoboards (with rubber bands), and tangrams sets.
When learning about the concept of time, students can gain greater understanding through the effective use of dry-erase clocks. A set of thermometers will be good to have when studying temperature and weather. Centimeter cubes, rulers, and student tape measures can make lesson on measurement a success as well.
Today’s world of technology offers many advantages to math students of all ages. Virtual Math manipulatives are interactive, online versions of traditional math manipulatives. Many websites offer free access to a variety of virtual tools. Web-based tools that would be useful for lessons that deal with data and probability include virtual spinners and graphing tools.